Sadguru Om Malati Mataji was one of the numerous gems
from the cascade of Gurudev Swami Sivananda Ji Maharaj (Divine Life Society,
Hrishikesh).
She was born on 20th September 1923 in a small town
called Miraj (Maharashtra State). Having lost her parents and close
relatives at a very young age, she took over the responsibilities of the family.
This led her to the realization that the one closet to us is
the Supreme Being.

In 1956, she relocated to Delhi with her husband and
children, bringing her close to Haridwar, at the foothills of Himalayas.
During one of her pilgrimages to Haridwar, she proceeded to Hrishikesh and, by sheer coincidence,
visited
Swami Sivananda Ashram. As she came close to Gurudev Kutir (a place where
Swami Sivananda lived), she heard a sound of “Omkara” by Swamiji himself. At that
moment, the vibration of this divine experience inspired a feeling within
her that she had found her guru and her spiritual journey began....

H H Swami Sivananda gifted her a self-authored book
'Triple Yoga' and insisted that she read it, which she did after returning home to
Delhi. Curious to experience this new unknown
path, she was inspired to sit for meditation.

An incident reveals the intensity of her spiritual
practices. In the year 1962, she wanted to get formal Mantra Diksha
-
initiation from Gurudev. On being produced before him, she bowed at
his feet and entered into an extremely deep state of meditation. Later Gurudev asked
"Why has she come here? She has already attained
Nirvikalpa Samadhi”.

Just as the fragrance of a blooming flower sends an
invitation to all, the aura of a self-realized master attracts the seeker.
The
ever-increasing numbers of spiritual seekers at her home made it impossible to
address everyone's needs and hence, in the year 1991, her spiritual children sought her
permission to build an ashram, the place she called Tapovan (a place
of austerities).

She attained this while simultaneously
performing her family duties with utmost dexterity. In 1994, having
fulfilled all her responsibilities, she renounced her home, relocated
permanently to Tapovan, and started
dedicating every moment for the seekers.

This place is dedicated to the cause of creating a
universal spiritual home where there is no discrimination of caste,
creed, sect or religion. The entire earth is one family - “Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam”.

Vidvat Sanyasini, Om Sri Maa did not have expectations from the world.
All she wanted was to forget differences and come together to
experience ‘Divine Life’ in every moment of life.